Method and apparatus for producing fluid from wells



June 27, 1939. A. L. ARMENTROUT E-r AL 2,164,266

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLUID FROM WELLS Filed Feb. 16, 1938 Patented June 27, 1939 PATENT oFFlCE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRDUC- ING FLUID FROM WELLS Arthur L. Armentrout and Elwin B. nail, Los

Angeles, Calif., assignors, by direct and mesne I assignments, to Security Engineering Co. Inc., a corporation of California 'Application .February 16, 1938, Serial No. 190,738

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the recovery of iiuid from wells and relates more particularly to a method and apparatus for producing fluid from wells such' as oil wells and gas Wells.

In the production of oil and gas from deepwells water' often iiows into the wellsafter the prolonged production of the. oil and gas. Very often when ,an oil sand is depleted of its oil content, it becomes waterlogged and admits water to thenwell. This water intrusion from one stratum has a marked inuence on the rate at which oil may enter the well from another stratum. Oil ows into thev well by `virtue of the gas pressure action or hydrostatic pressure action and when this action is opposed by 'water accumulating in the well and admitted by another stratum, the rate of oil production is materially lessened and in some instances is stopped. Furthermore, water in the well produced by a depleted oil sand sometimes enters an active or producing stratum driving-the oil away from the well and tending vto the sands.

An object of this invention is to provide a method lfor producing uids from wells by means of which an unwanted fluid produced by one stratum may be fully shut ofi and excluded without shutting oi or restricting the ilow oi wanted uid from another stratum.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for easily, quickly and inexpensively shutting off a portion of4 a well that is admitting or producing water or other unwanted iluid, leaving the remainder of the well in produce the desired fluid.

Anotherobject oi this invention is to provide a method for dependably and completely sealthus formed without removing the'remainder ofthe liner from the well. y

Another" object of this invention is vto provide a well liner having a drillable portion located or occurring between producing sands or strata that may be drilled out or removed'by a drilling vtool to permit the plugging or sealing oil! of the well at the open section thus formed. without the withdrawal of the liner from the well.

prevent the yield of oil trom a condition A further-object of this invention is to provide a well liner of the character mentioned that is economical to manufacture, -easy to install and that materially facilitates sealing oli or cementing `oi the well to exclude undesired iluid from certain strata. Y

Other objects and features of our -invention willhe better and more fullyfundcrstood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of the apparatus and a. typical manner of carrying out the method of the invention throughout which description reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which: v,i

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of a' typical oil or gas well illustrating the liner of the invention in position therein. Fig. 2 is lan enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the liner shwn in Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which a toolmay drill away the drillable portion of the liner and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a body of cement shutting off the lower portion of the well;

It is believed that the method of the invention will be best understood following a detailed description Vlof a typical preferred form 'of the Aapparatus as employed in a typical producing well such as an oil well. It is to be understood that the apparatus vof the invention may be varied considerably to adapt it for use in diierent installations and that the invention is not to be 'Y construed as restricted to the specic form or application of the apparatus illustrated.

The portion of the `typical'vsell W illustrated in' the drawingpenetrates or passes through a ,lower producing zone' or'stratum A, a non-pro- It will be considered that the Well W is an oilV well and that the strata A and C are oil sandsproducing oil. A casing In extends downwardly in the well W from the ground surface and its y The apparatus of the present invention isin the nature of a liner L comprising, generally, sec-1V tions Il and I5 arranged in or extending through f the producing strata A andC respectively. and a v lower end of the casing Il to a point below the lower producing stratum A.' The liner L is preferably proportioned to extend through thel open lower portion of the well W with consider- Y able clearance so that an annularspace is left aboutit.- It is to be understood that the liner L may be made up of any required number of sections or lengths of tubular stock and that the invention is not to be considered as limited to the particular number oi' lengths or sections iliustrated.

Where the well W has two spaced producing strata A and C, the liner L embodies the two perforate sections Il and II.. The perforate portions or sections Il and I of the liner L may be formed of steel or other suitable material. While we have shown the sections Il and I5 each comprising a single length oi tubular stock, it is to be understood lthat they may be made up of any required number of connected pieces or lengths and that thevlengths of the sections Il and I 5 depend upon the vertical extentA of the producing strata A and C. The sections Il and I5 may be provided with multiplicities oi' openings, ports or slots I1 for admitting the produced fluids to the interior of the liner. In the particular case illustrated ,there are multipliciti of vertically extending slots I1 provided in the sections Il and Il in vertically and circumferentially spaced relation.x The slots I'I are such' that the sections Il and I5 serve to screen out the sand and other solid matter and allow the entrance of the iluid Vproduced .by the strata A and C respectively. to the interior er the liner L. It npreferred to proportion the sections I4 and I5 so that they extend entirely through the producingstrataAandCrespectively.-Inthecase where the section I4 constitutes the lowermost peri'orate portion oi' the liner L a suitable shoe 'Il may be secured to-its lower end. The s'hoe Il may be provided with blades Il for cooperating with the bottom of. the well W.

The invention preferably includes means for sustaining or retainingthelinerLinthewell. In practice this means may constitute a suitable liner hanger connected with the upper end of "the liner L and cooperating with theset casing Il. The particular liner hanger illustrated in the drawing includ a tubular body 2l connectedwiththe liner Lbyasuitablecrplingu. Acone 22isprovldedonthebody2landaset `o! slips 2lis expansiblebytheconen'togrip the interior oi.' the casing Il. `A tailpiece 2l is connected with the slips 23 and yieldingly or irlctionally cooperat with the interior' of the casing, Il to control the slips 23. The slips 2l gripping theinterior ol'thecasing Ilandenmedby the cone 22 dependably support' or suspend thennernrrommeemngn. nntobeunderthat incertain applications or instancq thelinerhangermaynotberequiredandthe linerLmaybesupportedthrorghitsengag' .mentwlthtnebwniortneweum-e.

v'I'heportionorsectlon Il ofthelinerLi-'san important feature of the invention. The sectionv Itisatubularmemberorstrnctureandispret A*erablyintegraloriormedot'asinglelerizhof tubularstochalthoughitmaybeconstructedot a'pbiralityoi'connectedtubular'sectlons, ifdealcance as the sections Il and I5.

In accordance with the invention the liner section I6 is formed of a material that may be cut out or drilled up by a. tool T operated on a well drilling string 28. It is preferred to form the section I6 of aluminum or its alloys that may be readily milled or drilled up by a drilling tool, wall scraper, or other drilling device that may be operated in the well W. The section I6 'may be formed also of other readily drillable material such as Bakelite, hard rubber compositions, cement, glass, or soft metals or other materials that are readily drillable.

,y In the event that the well W has more than two spaced producing zones or strata the liner L may be provided with spaced drillable sections similar to the section I Ii related so that a, drillable section is provided in the liner between each pair of adjacent producing strata.v It is to be observed that the liner L is constructed of steel or other conventional material except for the provision of the drillable section I6.

In carrying out the method of the invention with the typical apparatus described above,- the depths or positions of the various strata A, B, C and D are irst determined. These positions may be determined by suitable surveying instruments well known to those skilled in the art. Following the location of the various 'strata of the well, the liner L is made up or constructed so that the perforate section Il is positioned in the part of the well penetrating the stratum A, the section I6 is positioned in the part of the well penetrating the non-productive stratum B and the perforate section I5 is positioned in the part-of the well penetratingl the stratum C when the liner L is hung or set in the well. The liner L may be `run into the well W in the usual manner and suspended from the casing C through the medium of the slips 23 expanded bythe cone 22. The well W is then lallowed to produce or is .pumped in the manner well known to those well skilled in the art.

The fluids produced by the strata A and C are free 'to ilow into the liner L through the slots I1 to iiow up or to be pumped up through thel liner. After prolonged production, the lower'zone or stratum Amay become exhausted or substantiallyexhausted of its oil or other desired- Y iiuid and may produce or admit water orI other undesirable iiuid to the well. If this occurs itA may become desirable or necessary to close oil or seal oi! the startum A from the well W so that the unwanted water or iluid will not lessen or destroy the productivity of the upper producing stratum C. A e

When it becomes desirable or necessary to close of! or sealoi the stratum A from the well W, a suitable tool is run into the well to cut out or drill up the drillable section I6. In Fig. 2 of .the drawing we have illustrated the tool T carriedby the string 28-and acting on ordrilling away a part oi' the drillable sectionA I6. 'I'he tool T shown in the drawing isv in the nature of an expansible wall scraper Aor underreaming tool,

having a body 3l whose lower portion ilts in the 175 amazes Y on the earth formation at the wall of the well W vto enlarge the well as at 32, as it cuts away or drills up the section I6'. The tool T is lowered into the well W on the string 28 to a position within the drillable section I6 and is then manipulated or controlled sothat its bladesY 3| expand into cutting contact-with the said section. The string 28 is then rotated and fed longitudinally so that the blades 3| cut awayV the wall of the section IB and enlarge the well W as at32. The particular tool Tillustratedin the drawing is operable by rotation and downward feeding of .the string 28 to drill up the sectionl I6 and enlarge the well bore. It; will be understood, however, that a type of cutting tool may be employed that operates by rotation and upwardv feeding of the string VMl, if this procedure is-preferred. The slips 23 assisted by the blades I9 serve to holdthe liner L against rotation during the above described operation of the tool T. The teeth of the slips 23 may havel vertical grooves 9 cut in them to better resist turning of the liner L. In practice sand Aand silt accumulatesgabout the liner L and may assist in holding the liner against turning.

4Although we have herein illustrated and made reference to a rotary type tool for drilling up or cutting away the section I6, the invention also contemplates the employment of a cable tool for performingthis function.

The tool T is preferably operated to drill up or cut away a'portion of the section I6 of substantial length. lIn practice the drilling operationV may be terminated before the blades 3| come in contact with the collar or coupling 2l; however, if the drilling continues until this occurs, the resistance 'to cutting offered by the steel coupling 21 will indicate to the operator that thev section I6 has been cut away or drilled up down to the coupling 2l and that the drilling operation cansage 33 and 'the circulation fluid or water,is

pumped down through the string 28 and through the passage 33 to discharge at the blades 3| throughout the drilling operation. 'I'his circulation fluid under pressure after leaving the tool T ows upwardly through the upper portion of the liner L and thev casing I to the ground surface. I6 is preferably formed'of a material having a low specific gravity and the returning circulation fluid carries with it the cuttings or vfragments of the drilled away portion of the section I6 and thus removes them from the well. The flushing of the cuttings or fragments of the section I6 from the Well while highly preferred is not absolutely essential and the cuttings may be. permitted to settle in the well, if desired. When the' drilling away or drilling/up of a substantial portion of thesection lli-has Abeen completed, the

drilling string 28 isv pulled from the well to withdraw the tool '12! As described above, the drillable section y The next phase or step` of the method of the invention is the cementing of! of the stratum A bearing the water or unwanted fluid. A quantity or body of Portland cement slurry 35 is passed down through the casingv III and the remaining upper portion of the liner L to the lower part of the well W. This operation maybe i performed in any of the manners well known to those skilled in the art. It is preferred to delversuillcient cement slurry to the lower'portion of the well to completely occupy it from its lower wall to a point at or above the upper plane:

36 of the cutting or drilling operation of the tool iT. As illustrated in Fig.- 3 of the drawing the body of the cement slurry 35 may extend upwardly beyond the plane'35 defined by the lower end of the upper remaining portion of the section I6. It will beunderstood,of course, that the body of the cement slurry 35 occupies that portion of the well W extending into or penetrating thestratum A. Owing to the fact` that the tool T has cut' away a substantial length or portion of the drillable section I6 the cement slurry 35 is free to flow downwardly 'around the remaining ylower portion of the liner L and to completely occupy'that part of the well underreamed by the tool T and indicated-at 32. Thus the cement slurry 35 forms a solid body or plug in the well below the producing stratum C. The

tool T in reaming or enlarging therbore at 32 cleans the wall of the well, removing all accumulations' of mud, wax, etc. therefrom. 'The cement slurry 35 dependably bonds with the cleaned wall ofthe well and directly engages the earth formation. Y l y Following the introduction and setting of the cement slurry 35, the Well maybe produced from the stratum C and the other exposed producing strata, if any. The set or hardened cement slurry dependably and completely closes oil? the stratum A preventing water'or other' unwanted fluid therefrom from interfering with the production of wanted fluid or oil from the stratum C. It will `be observed that it is unnecessary to -pull or remove the liner. vL from .the well to seal off the stratum A. This ls important as considerable difficulty is often encountered in attemptingto withdraw a liner from a well following a substantial period of production. The present 'invention provides a simpe, inexpensive appara-A tus and a practical method for fully sealing off unwanted fluid from one or-more strata oi? a well to allow wanted uid to be produced from the remaining strata. The method may' be readily performed with the usual cementing equipment, etc. 'Ihe apparatus or liner L may be fabricated to permit the carrying out of 'the -method under practically any condition.

VOnly a typical preferred form of apparatus and a typical'prefered manner of carrying outv the method of our invention having'been described herein, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations -or modifications that may appear tothose skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described oui' invention, we claim:

1. A liner for use in a well having producing strata separated by` a non-producing stratum comprising perforate tubularliner sections for arrangement in the portions of the well penetratfor arrangement in theportion of the well penetrating said non-producing stratum.

2. A liner for use in a well having a producing stratum and a non-producing stratum including a `tubular body for arrangement in the well and including a perforate portion of steel to be located in the producing stratum and a drillable portion of aluminum to be located in the non-producing stratum.

3. A liner 4for use in a well having a producing stratum and a non-producing stratum including a tubular body for arrangement in the well and including a perforate portion to be located in the part of the well extending through the producing stratum and an imperforate portion to be positioned in the part of the well passing through the non-producing stratum formed of a material having a low shear strength to be readily drilled up in the well.

4. A liner for use in a well having producing strata separated by a non-producing stratum comprising a tubular body adapted for arrangement in the well, the body including portions of steel in the parts of the well penetrating said producing strata, said portions vbeing adapted to section in the well, and then introducing cement into the open section thus formed to seal ofi the last mentioned zone.

6. The method of producing a well having spaced upperand ,lower productive zones, which ,an open section in the well and then sealing off said'lower zone by introducing cement into said opensection and into or around the remaining portion of the liner therebelow.

7. The method of producing a well having spaced upper and lower productive zones, which method comprises positioning a tubular liner in the `well having perforate portions at said zones for receiving the' fluid therefrom and having-a drillable part between said perforate portions, allowing the well to produce from said zones and subsequently shutting oif said lower zone by operating a drilling tool in the liner to drill up out through said drillable portion and to ream the wall of the well, and introducing plastic cement to the well to close the well where said part was cut and the well was reamed.

8. The method of producing a well having spaced upper and lower productive zones, which method comprises suspending a tubular liner in the well having perforate portions at said zones for receiving the fluid therefrom and having a drillable part between said perforate portionsi allowing the well to produce from said zones and subsequently shutting off said lower zone by operating a drilling tool in the linerto drill said drillable part into' fragments and leave an open sectionin the well, flushing said fragments from the well with fluid and then introducing cement slurry in the well to iiow down around and within the liner from said open section.

ARTHUR L. ARBLENTROUT. ELWIN B. HALL. 

